Display and dispensing device



ug- 12, 1952 J. M. cAswELl.

DISPLAY AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1946 9 INVENToR.

A TTOR/VE' Y6 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT Iortica:

.DISPLAY AND DISPENS'IN G DEVICE .l ames M Caswell, Atlanta, Ga.

ApplicationIi/Iay 28, 1946, 'Serial` N0. v672,71

2 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to display devices but more especially it is directed to a device of this character adapted to display :small bags or packages containing nuts, candies, and the like which are dispensed in small quantities.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of an easel rack adapted to displayingly support a plurality oi bags or packages including means for detachably securing the packages thereto.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a stand or rack for the display of merchandise to be dispensed, such as peanuts, candy, etc., and provided with a plurality of slits or slots and tab means insertible through the slots adapted to detachably carry the respective packages and having means to automatically prevent disengagement of the tabs from the device, thereby permitting ready separation oi a package from its tab Without disturbing the remaining packages.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a slotted easel-like display card cr board adapted to be positioned on show cases, counters, and the like, and a tab insertible in the respective slots having means ior automatically locking the tab therein at the rear of the device and means at the opposite surface to which is detachably connected the display package whereby the bag or package by a slight pull is detached from the tab Without in any way marring the display device, the board and tabs, if desired, being adapted for repeated use.

With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several gures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing tabs from which the bags or packages have been removed and a package as retained in display position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the easel supports.

Fig. 4 is a face View of one of the tabs on an enlarged scale. y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. y

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of oneA of the tabs before being placed in position` on the display rack or board.

Fig. 8 is a similar View to Fig. 7 but showing the tab in the position it assumes when in bag or package supporting position.

Fig. 9 is a Vertical section taken on the line 9 9 'of Fig. 8.

The devices of this general character with which I am familiar have proven deficient by reason of the weight of the bag causing disengagement of the tab upon slight movement of the device. or when dispensing the bag, its separation from the tab normally being effected only after rst removing the tab and then separating it from the bag and at the same time causing other bags to fall upon the counter orthe like, and it was to overcome such disadvantages and to provide a tab adapted to be easily connected to the bag or package by, for instance, a `stapling means, the stem portion of the tab being provided with means adapted to automatically engage the edge of the cut-out anchor portion of the slot when it is inserted in said slot to flock the tab and prevent its Withdrawal, thereby enabling quick disengagement of the package or bag by simply exerting a slight pull thereon, and Without in any way disturbing the remaining bags carried by the device, that I designed the device forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a package merchandising device A having an easel support element B attached centrally to the rear surface of the device. The element B is formed from one piece of cardboard or other suitable material and has a longitudinally extendingk central section I adhesively or otherwise suitably secured to the rear surface 2 of board A. At each longitudinal edge of section l 'said element is bent at right angles thereto forming the easel supporting sections 3 and when not in use these sections are foldable in flat superimposed relation with respect to said board so that said vboards may be stacked and occupy a small space for the purpose of' storing, shipping and the like.

The lower edges 4 of sections 3 are angularly cut with respect to the display board so that when they are moved to substantially right angles with respect to said board they support' the board at an angle inclined Withrespect to its supporting surface 5, as clearly showniri Fig.2.

The display board A constructed from cardboard, plastic or other suitable material, in the present instance, is formed with a trio of parallel series of slots 6 respectively stamped out to form an elongated cut-out anchor portion l' forming an integral hinged portion 8 and constituting a locking element as and for a purpose hereinafter more fully appearing.

Figs. 4 and '7 illustrate a bag or lpatkage supporting tab C substantially T-shaped, the stem portion 9 adapted to be inserted through a slot 6 and the cap or cross-head portieriA it', adapted to engage the front surface ,of said board or card A, said stem portion being fformed- Wtha 'V shaped cut II forming the struck-up locking portion I2 automatically engageable with the movable edge of the slot or anchor portion 7, when the stem 9 is inserted through slot 6, to lock tab C and prevent its withdrawal after it has been so inserted, except by the manual depression of struck-up locking portion I2, whereby the tab may be easily withdrawn.

Each of the tabs C is adapted to detachably support a merchandise package or bag D adapted to contain peanuts, nuts, candy and the like, and preferably formed of cellophane or other transparent material. Said tab is easily attached to the mouth of the fbag D or portion of the package by a staple I3, then all that is necessary to mount the package in display arrangement on the board or card is to insert the stem portion 9 in a respective slot and, as the stem is inserted, it moves the lower edge of cut-out anchor portion I rearwardly and struck-up portion I2 passes thereunder and automatically engages said edge when said stem is moved outwardly by the weight of the bag, thereby preventing withdrawal of the tab and securely locking it in bag supporting position. In this connection it will be noted that the weight of the bag pulls the cross-head I downwardly and by reason of the locking engagement of struck-up portion I2 with anchor element 7 forms a horizontal portion I4 on said tab C which seats on the lower or supporting edge of slot 6, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and, which tab supporting surface in conjunction with the locking structure above described, prevents tearing and damage to the tab structure and, whereby bag D may be forcibly detached from the tab when dispensing of the article is desired, leaving the tab in its locked position as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It Will be noted that the element B is formed with cut-out openings I5 the portions cut therefrom adapted to extend at right angles to supports 3 when the latter are in supporting position and to remain in overlying relation on opposite sides of portion I to constitute brace or strengthening elements I6 for the card or board A, as will be well understood. It will be noted that the adhesively or otherwise secured portion I is formed with elongated openings I7 registering with the overlying slots 6 of the intermediate row of slots 6 so as not to interfere with the hinged movement of anchor members 'I or the insertion of the tabs C, as will be well understood.

From the above it will be apparent that I have designed a dispensing package .display apparatus provided with slots so cut as to form hinged locking portions, said device including package supporting tab members having enlarged head portions engageable with the face o-f the device and stem portions insertable through the slots and having means automatically engageable with said hinged portions to Iprevent withdrawal of said stern portions, thereby permitting separation and dispensing of the packages and retention of the tabs in the device, said device being simple in construction, manufacturableat 4a negligible cost, and efficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efcient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A package display and dispensing board comprising a body provided with a plurality of slots, each circumscribing a limited portion of said body except for a restricted part remaining attached to the body and defining a hinge member for the resulting cut-out portion of the body for enabling the cut-out portion of the body to be retracted away from the body thereby defining an open slot, an individual tab member received in the open slot having a head portion for detachably receiving a bag or package to be displayed and dispensed and a restricted stem portion received in the open slot, the said restricted stem portion having an upstanding V-shaped tongue engaging the retracted cut-out portion of the body and interlocked therewith for restraining the stem portion against withdrawal from the slot.

2. A package display and dispensing board comprising a body provided with a plurality of restricted openings, each of which openings is defined by a continuous slit circumscribing a limited portion of the body except for a restricted top part remaining attached to the body of the board and defining a hinge element for the resulting cut-out portion of the body intermediate the continuous slit for enabling the said cut-out portion of the body to be retracted about the hinge element away from the body of the board to define a slot opening in the body of the board, an individual tab member having a head portion substantially larger than the slot opening and a restricted stem portion received in the slot opening and intergral with the head portion, the said head portion of the tab member projecting from the body of the board substantially perpendicularly thereto, the said head portion of the tab member being adapted to receive detachably a package to be displayed and dispensed, an upstanding substantially V- shaped locking tongue on the stem portion of the tab member engaging the retracted cut-out portion of the body of the board, and complemental locking means on the said cut-out portion in cooperating locking engagement with the said V-shaped locking tongue, the said locking engagement being eifected responsively to insertion of the stem in the slot opening for restraining the tab against `withdrawal from the slot opening.

JAMES M. CASWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 107,238 Joline Nov. 30, 1937 977,292 Gair Nov. 29,y 1910 1,402,635 Meyer Jan. 3, 1922 1,507,078 Mackie Sept. 2, 1924 1,677,318 Alexander July 17, 1928 1,785,498 Savageau Dec. 16, 1930 1,835,714 McCausland Dec. 8, 1931 1,940,078 Cooper Dec. 19, 1933 1,997,310 Roege Apr. 9, 1935 2,067,386 Frowenfeld et al. Jan. 12, 1937 2,387,639 Bouchelle Oct. 23, 1945 

